2016 Howell Mountain Merlot

Candlestick Ridge Estate Vineyard

Howell Mountain

146 CASES MADE

This Howell Mountain Merlot is a fierce testament to what is possible for one of the great grapes in the world of wine. Since its introduction, this Howell Mountain Merlot program has been blowing Craig Cab lovers away. And, while many wineries make Merlot as an afterthought, this release was very intentional, indeed.

750 ml

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE
Craig Members: Please log in to acquire this wine.

The 2016 Howell Mountain Merlot is sourced primarily from a small section of our Candlestick Ridge Estate Vineyard along the northern boundary of the summit ridge of Howell Mountain. Volcanic, shallow soils and low yields lead to tiny berry size and intense flavors in the finished wines. For those of you who love the powerful, supple wines of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, this is a Merlot for you. We blend 20% Cabernet Sauvignon into this wine from less tannic lots to help soften this wine.

The case production is tiny — less than 150. Many of you have discovered the beauty of this wine after coming into taste it for the first time. Don’t sleep on the 2016 release; there is only a little.

BLEND: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
HARVEST DATES: September 29, 2016
AVERAGE SUGAR: 25.8° Brix | TA: 6.1g/L | PH: 3.76 | ALCOHOL: 15.51%
BARREL AGING: 18 mo. French oak; 50% new. Unfiltered & unfined.
BOTTLING DATE: May 1, 2018
CASES PRODUCED: 146

Situated on the north end of the Howell Mountain summit cap at 2,250’ of elevation, this 26-acre vineyard, first planted in 1950, rests on a plateau overlooking the southeast face of Mount St Helena and the whole of Pope Valley. Replanted by Duckhorn Winery in 1998 to primarily Bordeaux varieties on varying rootstocks, the Candlestick Vineyard produces wines that are dense, dark and explosive with flavor. The pure white volcanic ash and Tufa soils are poor and well drained leading to low yields and intensely flavored berries.

Just beautiful up-front fruit merges with tremendous flesh and powerful structure, providing the scaffolding necessary to age Merlot into its next glorious phase in bottle. Dense mouthfeel combines with deep color, tremendous flesh and powerful structure in this gorgeous example of Napa Valley Mountain Merlot. 2015 sees the addition of the dark, intense fruit from our Candlestick Ridge Vineyard. Will cellar for decades.

2016 Howell Mountain Merlot

About This Wine

Vineyard

Tasting Notes

2016 Howell Mountain Merlot

About This Wine

Vineyard

Tasting Notes

Cart Summary